Climate Change and Holiday Consumerism

Hello everyone!

It's holiday season again! Here are a few videos that address some of the rampant problems with consumerism (plus one fun video about food waste). Please watch and share these videos, especially before Black Friday. Thanks!

I ADORE shopping on Amazon. I love reading the reviews, I love the prices, I love the wide selection... But I've finally started boycotting Amazon for a YEAR now (except for one purchase), due to how they treat their warehouse employees.

Who Pays the Price for Amazon's Free Shipping?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUAOr_nGELU

I LOVE videos by Climate Lab: a collaboration between Vox and the University of California. Many of their videos are very entertaining as well as informative.

Climate Lab: The environmental cost of free two-day shipping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HOijUtExiM&t=29s

Here is a FUN and interesting video by Climate Lab, another look at consumerism - about food waste. According to the bestseller Drawdown, reducing food waste is listed as NUMBER 3 on the list of top 100 solutions to REVERSE climate change.

Food waste is the world's dumbest problem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RlxySFrkIM&t=29s

The Story of Stuff went viral, and the filmmakers have made many follow-up videos:

The Story of Stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM&t=414s

Personally, I've mostly stopped giving stuff at the holidays. I've mostly been giving or making food, or wine/beverages, or sometimes online photo albums. And working on climate change for all of us! It's clear from the smoke that fills our skies we need to make major changes right away. This is a good time to help make people make the connection between the fires, climate change - and most of all, keep reminding people of solutions. We need to keep pressing on - especially now, with the fires and the smoke so present in everyone's minds.

We must work on pulling carbon out of the atmosphere as quickly as possible. For instance, shifting to one or two vegetarian or vegan meals a day is another way to REVERSE climate change (a plant-rich diet is listed as NUMBER 4 on Drawdown's list).

We must support and promote carbon farming, and support funding for farmers to transition to carbon farming. Not only does carbon farming help sequester carbon into the soil (pull carbon out of the atmosphere!), carbon farming also holds more water in the soil. It can reduce agricultural run-off, reduce the need for pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and produce more nutritious and delicious fruits and vegetables. AND it can improve profits. Subscribe to CalCAN's newsletter to learn more: https://calclimateag.org/

Climate Action - Do it for everyone you love!!! For your kids - for their kids - for your grandchildren. We have no time to waste!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hoai-An

Climate Change and Holiday Consumerism - Please Share!